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ZZ Chem 2 > chemistry of the atmosphere > Flashcards

chemistry of the atmosphere Flashcards

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1
Q

For how long as the proportions of gases in the atmosphere have been much the same as they are today?

A
  • For 200 million years, the proportions of different gases in the
    atmosphere have been much the same as they are today:
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2
Q

What percentage of our atmosphere is made up of nitrogen?

A
  • About 4/5 (approx. 80%)
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3
Q

What percentage of our atmosphere is made up of oxygen?

A
  • About 1/5 (approx. 20%)
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4
Q

What makes up the rest of our atmosphere?

A
  • Small proportions of various other gases, including carbon
    dioxide, water vapour and noble gases.
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5
Q

Why is evidence for the early atmosphere limited?

A
  • Evidence for the early atmosphere is limited because of the time scale of 4.6 billion years.
  • Theories about what was in the Earth’s early atmosphere and how
    the atmosphere was formed have changed and developed over
    time.
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6
Q

What does one theory suggest about the formation of the early atmosphere? (Phase One)

A
  • One theory suggests that during the first billion years of the Earth’s existence there was intense volcanic activity
  • This released gases that formed the early atmosphere
  • Volcanoes​ ​also​ ​produced​ ​nitrogen​​ ​which​ ​gradually​ ​built​ ​up​ ​in the​ ​atmosphere​ ​&​ ​there​ ​may​ ​have​ ​been​ ​small​ ​proportions​ ​of methane​​​ ​​and​​ ammonia​
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7
Q

What does one theory suggest about the formation of the early atmosphere? (Phase Two)

A
  • When water vapour in the atmosphere condensed it formed the oceans
  • Lots of CO2 was removed from the early atmosphere as it dissolved in the oceans
  • Later, marine animals evolved
  • Green plants an algae also evolved and absorbed some of the CO2 so they could carry out photosynthesis
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8
Q

What does one theory suggest about the formation of the early atmosphere? (Phase Three)

A
  • As well as absorbing CO2, green plants and algae produced oxygen by photosynthesis
  • Algae evolved first
  • Then over the next billion years or so, green plants also evolved
  • As percentage of oxygen built up in the atmosphere over time, more complex life (animals) could evolve
  • Eventually about 200 million years ago, the atmosphere reached a composition similar to how it is today
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9
Q

What did the shells and skeletons of marine animals contain?

A
  • Some of the carbonates from the ocean
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10
Q

How are fossil fuels/ sedimentary rocks formed?

A
  • When plants, plankton and marine animals die, they fall to the seabed and get buried by layers of sediment
  • Over millions of years they become compressed and for sedimentary rocks, oil and gas - trapping the carbon within them
  • These fossil fuels form reservoirs under the seabed where they get trapped in rocks
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11
Q

Name sedimentary rocks

A
  • Coal
  • Limestone
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12
Q

What is coal made from?

A
  • Thick plant deposits
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13
Q

What is limestone mostly made of?

A
  • Calcium carbonate deposits from the shells and skeletons of marine organisms
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14
Q

What are crude oil and natural gas formed from?

A
  • Deposits of plankton
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15
Q

What may have the early atmosphere been similar to?

A
  • At the start of this period the Earth’s atmosphere may have been like the atmospheres of Mars and
    Venus today
  • Consisting of mainly carbon dioxide with little or no oxygen gas.
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16
Q

What caused oceans to form?

A
  • The condensation of water vapour in the atmosphere
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17
Q

What happened when the oceans formed?

A
  • When the oceans formed carbon dioxide dissolved in the water
  • The dissolved CO2 went through a series of reactions to form carbonates precipitates
  • The carbonates were precipitated producing sediments on the seabed
  • This reduced the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
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18
Q

What first produced oxygen and when?

A
  • Algae first produced oxygen about 2.7 billion years ago
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19
Q

Explain how the oxygen that is now in the atmosphere is produced

A
  • Algae and plants produced the oxygen that is now in the atmosphere by photosynthesis
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20
Q

Name the word equation for photosynthesis

A
  • carbon dioxide + water —> glucose + oxygen
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21
Q

Name the symbol equation for photosynthesis

A
  • 6CO2 + 6H2O —> C6H1206 + 6O2
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22
Q

How is the level of oxygen in our atmosphere increased?

A
  • Algae​ ​&​ ​plants​ ​produced​ ​the​ ​O​2​​ - photosynthesis
  • Algae​ ​first​ ​produced​ ​oxygen​​ ​and​ ​soon​ ​after​ ​this oxygen​ ​appeared​ ​in​ ​the​ ​atmosphere
  • Over​ ​the​ ​next​ ​billion​ ​years​ ​plants​ ​evolved, more oxygen was produced
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23
Q

How was carbon removed from our atmosphere?

A
  • The shells and skeletons of marine animalscontained some of these carbonates from the ocean
  • Some CO2 absorbed by green plants and algae
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24
Q

How was the level of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere decreased?

A
  • Algae​ ​and​ ​plants​ ​decreased​ ​the​ ​%​ ​CO​2​​ ​in​ ​the​ ​atmosphere​ ​by​ ​photosynthesis
  • CO2​ ​​ ​was​ ​also​ ​decreased​ ​by​ ​the​ ​formation​ ​of​ ​sedimentary​ ​rocks​ ​that​ ​contain carbon​ ​(e.g.​ ​​ ​limestone​ ​and​ ​coal)​ ​
  • And​ ​by​ ​the​ ​production​ ​of​ ​fossil​ ​fuels​ ​from​ ​the remains​ ​of​ ​dead​ ​plants​ ​and​ ​animals​ ​when​ ​they​ ​decayed
25
Q

What is the purpose of greenhouse gases?

A
  • Maintain​ ​temperatures​ ​on​ ​earth​ ​high​ ​enough​ ​to​ ​support​ ​life
26
Q

Name greenhouse gases

A
  • ​Water​ ​vapour,
  • ​CO2​ ​​ ​
    *​ ​CH4​
27
Q

Explain the greenhouse gas effect

A
  • Electromagnetic​ ​radiation​ ​at​ ​most​ ​wavelengths​ ​(both​ ​long​ ​and​ ​short) from​ ​the​ ​sun​ ​​ ​passes​ ​through​ ​the​ ​Earth’s​ ​atmosphere
  • The​ ​Earth​ ​absorbs​ ​some​ ​radiation​ ​and​ ​thus​ ​warms​ ​up​ ​(essential​ ​for​ ​life​ ​on Earth).​ ​But​ ​some​ ​heat​ ​is​ ​radiated​ ​from​ ​the​ ​Earth​ ​as​ ​infrared​ ​radiation.
  • Some​ ​of​ ​this​ ​IR​ ​radiation​ ​is​ ​absorbed​ ​by​ ​greenhouse​ ​gases​ ​in​ ​the atmosphere
  • Atmosphere​ ​warms​ ​up​ ​leading​ ​to​ ​the​ ​greenhouse​ ​effect​ ​and​ ​global warming
28
Q

What do human activities cause an increase in?

A
  • Activities​ ​increase​ ​levels​ ​of​ ​CO2​ ​​​&​ ​CH4​
29
Q

Name human activities which contribute to an increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere

A
  • Burning fossil fuels
  • Agriculture (raising livestock)
  • Deforestation
  • Creating waste / decay​ ​of​ ​organic​ ​waste​ ​in​ ​landfill​ ​sites​
30
Q

How can burning fossil fuels affect the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?

A
  • Carbon that was ‘locked up’ in these fuels is released as CO2
31
Q

How can deforestation affect the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?

A
  • Fewer trees mean less CO2 is removed from the atmosphere via photosynthesis
32
Q

How can agriculture affect the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?

A
  • More farm animals produce more ethane through their digestive processes
33
Q

How can creating waste affect the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?

A
  • More landfill sites and more waste from agriculture means ore CO2 and methane released by decomposition of waste
34
Q

What do many scientists believe based on peer reviewed evidence in terms of human activity and the Earth’s atmosphere?

A
  • Based​ ​on​ ​peer-reviewed​ ​evidence,​ ​many​ ​scientists​ ​believe​ ​that​ ​human​ ​activities will​ ​cause​ ​the​ ​temperature​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Earth’s​ ​atmosphere​ ​to​ ​increase​ ​at​ ​the​ ​surface
  • ​This​ ​will​ ​result​ ​in​ ​global​ ​climate​ ​change
35
Q

Why is peer review of results and communicating results to a wide range of audiences important?

A
  • So you know that the information is reliable
36
Q

Why is it hard to fully understand the Earth’s climate?

A
  • Because ​it​ ​is​ ​difficult​ ​to​ ​model​ ​such​ ​complex​ ​systems​ ​as​ ​global​ ​climate change - there are so many variable
  • It is hard to make a model that isn’t oversimplified
  • This​ ​leads​ ​to​ ​simplified​ ​models,​ ​speculation​ ​and​ ​opinions​ ​presented​ ​in the​ ​media​ ​that​ ​may​ ​be​ ​based​ ​on​ ​only​ ​parts​ ​of​ ​the​ ​evidence​ ​and​ ​which may​ ​be​ ​biased or only some of the information give.
37
Q

What is a major cause of global climate change?

A
  • An​ ​increase​ ​in​ ​average​ ​global​ ​temperature​ ​is​ ​a​ ​major​ ​cause​ ​of​ ​climate​ ​change
38
Q

What are the potential effects of global climate change?

A
  • Extinction​ ​of​ ​species
  • Melting of polar ice caps
  • Migration
  • Decrease​ ​in​ ​crop​ ​yield​ ​for​ ​all​ ​major​ ​world​ ​crops
  • Changes in rainfall pattern
39
Q

Why might global climate change increase migration?

A
  • People​ ​will​ ​move​ ​from​ ​areas​ ​suffering​ ​drought/flooding
40
Q

What is the effect of melting polar ice caps?

A
  • Rising​ ​sea​ ​levels​ ​
  • Increased flooding in coastal areas & coastal erosion
41
Q

What is the effect of changes in rainfall pattern?

A
  • May cause some regions to get too much or too little water
  • May affect the ability of certain regions to produce food
42
Q

Define carbon footprint

A
  • The​ ​total​ ​amount​ ​of​ ​CO2​ ​​ ​and​ ​other​ ​greenhouse​ ​gases​ ​emitted
    over​ ​the​ ​full​ ​life​ ​cycle​ ​of​ ​a​ ​product,​ ​service​ ​or​ ​event.
43
Q

Why is it very hard to measure the total carbon footprint of something?

A
  • There are many different factors to consider
44
Q

How can we reduce our carbon footprint?

A
  • It​ ​can​ ​be​ ​reduced​ ​by​ ​reducing​ ​emissions​ ​of​ ​carbon​ ​dioxide​ ​and​ ​methane​
45
Q

Give example on how we can reduce our carbon footprint

A
  • Using​ ​less​ ​electricity​ ​so​ ​​less​ ​fossil​ ​fuels are used​ ​
  • Using​ ​an​ renewable energy sources
  • Reducing​ ​the​ ​amount​ ​of​ ​travel​ ​or​ ​transportation​ ​of​ ​either​ ​goods or​ ​people)​
  • Planting​ ​more​ ​trees.
  • Governments could create a GHG tax based on the amount of GHG someone emits
  • Using more efficient processes - conserve energy & cut waste
46
Q

Why is it difficult to reduce our carbon footprint?

A
  • Action​ ​may​ ​be​ ​limited​ ​because​ ​it’s​ ​more​ ​difficult and​ ​can​ ​be​ ​more expensive​
  • Many renewable energy technologies are still quite expensive
  • Governments are worried about making changes to reduce GHG emission - could impact economic growth
  • Planting​ ​trees​ ​takes​ ​away​ ​land​ ​that​ ​could​ ​be​ ​used​ ​to​ ​grow​ ​crops.
  • Hard to make international agreements to reduce emissions
  • Hard to get people to make changes if they don’t want too - lack of education
47
Q

What is a major source of atmospheric pollutants?

A
  • Combustion​ ​of​ ​fuels​ ​is​ ​a​ ​major​ ​source​ ​of​ ​atmospheric​ ​pollutants
48
Q

What do most fuels contain?

A
  • Most​ ​fuels​ ​(​ ​including​ ​coal)​ ​​contain​ ​carbon​​ ​and/or​ ​​hydrogen​​ ​and​ ​may​ ​also contain​ ​some​ ​​sulfur​
49
Q

Name the gases that are released into the atmosphere when a fuel burns

A
  • Carbon​ ​dioxide,
  • Water​ ​(vapour)
    ​* Carbon​ ​monoxide,
  • Oxides​ ​of​ ​nitrogen (which​ ​are​ ​formed​ ​at​ ​high​ ​temperatures).​ ​
  • Solid​ ​particles​ ​and​ ​unburned hydrocarbons​ ​may​ ​also​ ​be​ ​released,​ ​forming​ ​particulates​ ​in​ ​the​ ​atmosphere
50
Q

What happens if there is not enough oxygen during combustion?

A
  • If​ ​there’s​ ​not​ ​enough​ ​oxygen,​ ​some​ ​of​ ​the​ ​fuel​ ​doesn’t​ ​burn​ ​–​ ​this​ ​is partial/​incomplete​ ​combustion​.​ ​
  • Here,​ ​solid​ ​particles​ ​of​ ​​soot​​ ​(carbon),​ ​​carbon monoxide​​ ​and​ ​unburnt​ ​fuel​ ​are​ ​released.
51
Q

List atmospheric pollutants

A
  • Carbon monoxide
  • Sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen
  • Particulates
52
Q

What happens during combustion?

A
  • During​ ​combustion,​ ​the carbon​ ​and​ ​hydrogen​ ​in​ ​the​ ​fuels​ ​are​ ​oxidised​ ​to​ ​form​ ​carbon​ ​dioxide​ ​and water
  • The​ ​combustion​ ​of​ ​hydrocarbons​ ​releases​ ​energy.​ ​
53
Q

What are the properties of carbon monoxide?

A
  • It is colourless and odourless so not easy to detect
54
Q

How can carbon monoxide impact us and the environment?

A
  • Toxic gas which can stop your blood from carrying oxygen around the body - binds to haemoglobin that normally carries O2 - lack of oxygen can lead to fainting, coma, or death
55
Q

How are nitrogen oxides created?

A
  • From a reaction between the nitrogen and oxygen in the air, caused by the heat of burning
    e.g. internal combustion engines of cars
56
Q

How is sulfur dioxide released into the atmosphere?

A
  • During the combustion of fossil fuels that contain sulfur impurities - the sulfur in the fuel becomes oxidised
57
Q

How can sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen impact us and the environment?

A
  • When mixed with water in clouds, they form dilute sulfuric acid or dilute nitric ​causing​ ​acid​ ​rain​ - this kills plants and damages buildings and statues, also makes metal corrode
  • Causes respiratory​ ​problems​ ​in humans if breathed in
58
Q

How can particulates impact us and the environment?

A
  • Bad for the environment as it reflects sunlight back into space, meaning less light reaches the Earth, causing​ ​global​ ​dimming​ ​​
  • If inhaled, they can get stuck in the lungs and cause damage - leading to respiratory problems & human​ ​health​ ​problems

ZZ Chem 2 (5 decks)

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